A concerned citizen and resident of Lokoja, Alhaji Usman Musa, has made a passionate call to the Kogi State Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, alongside the Sanitation and Waste Management Board, to as a matter of urgency designate proper public dumpsites across the state capital before the refuse crisis spirals out of control.
Speaking in an interview, Alhaji Usman highlighted that the population of Lokoja is growing rapidly, painting a troubling picture of a capital city under siege from its own increasing waste output.
He raised alarm over the improper disposal of refuse along key transportation corridors, noting that road medians—originally meant to beautify and organize the city’s streets—have instead been turned into makeshift dumping grounds. According to him, the Lokongoma road, the 200 Units Housing road, and the Gadumo-Aniebo quarters road are among the worst-hit areas.
Alhaji Usman explained that the root of the problem remains the absence of government-designated dumpsites, particularly within Lokoja’s densely populated neighborhoods. This gap, he stated, leaves residents with little choice but to dump refuse along roadsides, where it frequently sits uncollected for days.
“This is not who we are,” Alhaji Usman insisted, warning that the growing heaps of waste are severely tarnishing the image of the state.
While appealing to residents to desist from indiscriminate dumping, he stressed that the government must lead the way. He urged the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management to move swiftly to clear existing refuse heaps and deploy strict surveillance teams to the affected zones.
To ensure long-term compliance, Alhaji Usman advocated for strict law enforcement, arguing that offenders caught defacing the state should face real consequences, including arrest and heavy fines.
He cautioned, however, that enforcement alone would not completely eradicate the problem. He advised the ministry to simultaneously roll out a comprehensive, state-wide public sensitization campaign on sustainable environmental practices and proper waste management aimed at restoring Lokoja’s beauty and dignity.
